--There's trash-talking going on between Bucks forwards Charlie Villanueva, Malik Allen and Charlie Bell. All three of them have seen their alma maters advance to the NCAA Final Four: Connecticut (Villanueva), Villanova (Allen) and Michigan State (Bell).
--The Bucks acquired veteran small forward Richard Jefferson from the Nets last summer for forwards Yi Jianlian and Bobby Simmons. While Jefferson has played well for the Bucks, Yi and Simmons have had disappointing seasons. Jefferson is averaging 18.9 points and 4.5 rebounds a game, while Yi and Simmons are averaging (9 points and 5.5 rebounds) and (7.8 and 4), respectively. --The Bucks' victory over the Nets Monday night at East Rutherford, N.J. was only their second in the last 10 road games.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "We need to make judgments in the summertime based on how guys handle this situation. When the games got bigger, how did we perform? And that doesn't mean from a win and loss standpoint. But how did we perform? Did we battle for it? During the course of the game, if it's a tie game midway through the third quarter and a couple things don't go our way, do we fight back or do we cave?" -- Bucks coach Scott Skiles on evaluating his players.
